Enhanced heat transport systems for cooling chambers and surfaces

Abstract

At least one forced convection unit added to a passive heat transport system is operated during transient heat loading periods but not operated under steady state conditions for cooling and maintaining a set point temperature of a chamber or surface. Forced convection is selectively employed based on temperature data and/or set point temperature values. A reject heat transport system includes first and second reject heat sinks each coupled via main and crossover transport tubes to first and second reject heat exchangers, permitting both heat sinks to dissipate heat from first and second thermoelectric heat pumps regardless of whether the first, the second, or the first and second heat pumps are in operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A heat transport system arranged to maintain a set point temperature or set point temperature range of a chamber or surface of a refrigeration system, the heat transport system comprising:
 at least one heat exchanger; 
 a fluid conduit containing a heat transport fluid in thermal communication with the at least one heat exchanger where the heat transport fluid comprises a liquid phase and a gas phase within the fluid conduit, and is arranged for passive flow within the fluid conduit; 
 at least one forced convection unit that is selectively operable to enhance convective heat transfer relative to the at least one heat exchanger; and 
 a controller configured to: 
 receive temperature data indicative of a temperature of an ambient environment external to the refrigeration system; 
 activate the at least one forced convection unit upon detection of a condition indicative that the temperature of the ambient environment external to the refrigeration system exceeds an ambient environment threshold temperature or ambient environment threshold temperature range; and 
 deactivate the at least one forced convection unit upon detection that the temperature of the ambient environment external to the refrigeration system is below the ambient environment threshold temperature or ambient environment threshold temperature range. 
 
     
     
       2. The heat transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid conduit comprises a thermosiphon or a heatpipe. 
     
     
       3. The heat transport system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one heat exchanger comprises a reject heat exchanger exposed to the ambient environment external to the refrigeration system; and 
 the at least one forced convection unit is arranged to enhance dissipation of heat from the reject heat exchanger to the ambient environment external to the refrigeration system. 
 
     
     
       4. The heat transport system of  claim 3 , wherein the reject heat exchanger comprises a plurality of fins, and wherein the fluid conduit is in conductive thermal communication with the plurality of fins. 
     
     
       5. The heat transport system of  claim 3 , wherein the heat transport system comprises at least one thermoelectric heat pump arranged to receive heat from the fluid conduit and transport heat to the reject heat exchanger, and the at least one thermoelectric heat pump is operated responsive to the temperature of the chamber or surface. 
     
     
       6. The heat transport system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one thermoelectric heat pump comprises a plurality of thermoelectric heat pumps, and the controller is configured to separately control at least two thermoelectric heat pumps of the plurality of thermoelectric heat pumps. 
     
     
       7. The heat transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger comprises an accept heat exchanger arranged between the chamber or surface and the fluid conduit, and the at least one forced convection unit is arranged to enhance transfer of heat from the chamber or surface to the accept heat exchanger. 
     
     
       8. The heat transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the condition indicative of a state in which the temperature of the ambient environment external to the refrigeration system exceeds the ambient environment threshold temperature or ambient environment threshold temperature range is detected by sensing a temperature of the at least one heat exchanger. 
     
     
       9. The heat transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one forced convection unit comprises an electrically operated fan.